Fri. Nov 22nd, 2024

Lilly to Acquire Alzheimer’s Imaging Agents from Siemens

Older person

In a move to shore up its lead in Alzheimer’s diagnostics, Eli Lilly and Co on Wednesday said it will acquire two imaging agents from Siemens designed to light up brain deposits of tau, an Alzheimer’s protein linked with cell death.

The two agents are radiopharmaceutical tracers, which are used with positron emission tomography, or PET scans, to highlight specific proteins in the brain. Terms of the deal with the conglomerate’s Siemens Medical Solutions USA unit were not disclosed.

In April 2012, Lilly became the first company to win U.S. marketing approval for use of its radioactive tracer known as Amyvid to detect the presence of brain plaques made up of the protein beta amyloid, an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease.

Lilly said it plans to use the new technology first in its research and development programs as it works to develop treatments that fight the build-up of amyloid and tau, two proteins that are believed to be hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.

Lilly also has the option to commercialize the tracers, which are meant to be used with PET scanners.

There are currently no approved diagnostics that can detect tau in living patients, which makes research difficult. Typically detected during an autopsy, tau is known for forming tangles in the brain and is believed to develop later in the progression of Alzheimer’s, when the disease has begun to kill off brain cells.

Lilly said validation and development of the tracers will be handled by a team at Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Lilly’s wholly owned subsidiary focused on molecular imaging.

So far, no drug has been found to prevent the advance of Alzheimer’s, the leading cause of dementia that now affects some 5 million Americans and 38 million people worldwide.

Lilly is developing a number of experimental Alzheimer’s treatments, including solanezumab, which is now being tested in a number of trials among patients with very early Alzheimer’s.

(Editing by Maureen Bavdek)


© 2013 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.

Related Post

Leave a Reply

Related Podcasts

More News
When Was Hell Prepared?
When Was Hell Prepared?
What Is Spiritual Warfare?
What Is Spiritual Warfare?
The Greatest Spiritual War for the Future Is the Past, Present and Future
The Greatest Spiritual War for the Future Is the Past, Present and Future
Tucker Carlson Shares His Testimony: ‘I Was Mauled by a Demon’
Tucker Carlson Shares His Testimony: ‘I Was Mauled by a Demon’
Mike Signorelli Talks Demonic Possession, Oppression and Generational Curses
Mike Signorelli Talks Demonic Possession, Oppression and Generational Curses
A Night of Unity at Christ Church: Arabs and Jews Worship Jesus Together in Jerusalem
A Night of Unity at Christ Church: Arabs and Jews Worship Jesus Together in Jerusalem
Amanda Grace, Faith Leaders Host Prayer Night for the Trump Family
Amanda Grace, Faith Leaders Host Prayer Night for the Trump Family
Is Fear Stopping You from Fulfilling God’s Purpose in Your Life?
Is Fear Stopping You from Fulfilling God’s Purpose in Your Life?
Isaiah Saldivar’s Remarkable Message: ‘I Hear Chains Breaking’
Isaiah Saldivar’s Remarkable Message: ‘I Hear Chains Breaking’
Greg Locke: How Biblical Generosity Transforms Lives
Greg Locke: How Biblical Generosity Transforms Lives
previous arrow
next arrow
Shadow

Latest Videos

Copy link